I’ve got an i-mate JASJAR on yesterday from Microsoft for PPC Phone review, I should say thank you to Microsoft first. Thanks a lot!!!
i-mate is the first company to launch the Windows Mobile 5 device in the market, and the configuration of JASJAR is the top and high-end model in between PPC Phone.
After extract the packet, you will found the following accessories are in the package:
1 x i-mate JASJAR
1 x i-mate JASJAR Battery (1620 mAh)
1 x i-mate JASJAR Standard Protection Case
1 x i-mate JASJAR AC Adapter (UK)
1 x USB Cable
1 x Hand Free
2 x Pens
1 x User Manual
1 x Quick Start Manual
1 x CD-ROM
Extra accessories:
1 x AC Adapter (US)
When I start the PPC and finish the standard system configuration, I found there has already installed some enhanced software, such as: smart dialer, anti-virus, skype and one i-mate game (Backgammon), Download Agent, MIDlet Manager, Terminal Service Client. These are very useful for a beginner user, they do not have to download and install these software. As a beginner, most of them are offer resistance to install software. I would like to use the PPC once I open the device, and without additional installation for enhancement.
Compare other same grade (mini-notebook and executive) PPC Phone in the market, JASJAR already installed a high-end hardware configuration and software copulation. It is a good for me to use my first PPC Phone. At least, smart dialer anti-virus and skype is the basic feature in nowadays PPC Phone, but I know there has some band will not include these software in start-up and they have to download and install these software.
I was looking for the ROM version after check the installed software. JASJAR is not yet update the ROM for the user, and user have to login to the clubimate.com and download the new version and installed by themselves, even that is only a few step, but I think it is a bad experience for the new user to buy the phone since the newer version is launch at Feb 2006 but the PPC is still installed the oldest version. As I know in other band, they will update the ROM version once a newer is launch.
For the preinstalled application, I did not test too much in details, only voice speed dial, smart dialer, and anti-virus.
Voice Speed Dial is required you provide a training to the speed dial of each contact in your contact list or any application in the device. That means you have to read the name of each contact or application name and record it in the device. In personally, it’s a quite outdated feature in nowadays, since in the band which starts with “D” has included a voice command program. You only can speak the command and the name in your contact list, it will help you to run the application or dial to the contact, on beside, you only have to train the device about your voice speed and frequency, and it will automatically to search in your contact list without record the name each by each. I believe it is much better than record each people in your contact list.
Smart Dialer is a really cool application for PPC Phone or Smartphone. Just a few steps you can search or filter the number which you want to dial like when I want to call “Peter” and his number is 91827364, I can enter either “73837” or “91827364” to filter “Peter” or “91827364”, and of cause, when you enter 3-4 keys, you can be select the contact in the filtered list. And JASJAR is the first 3G PPC Phone in market, in the dial page, your can select to call the contact in voice call or video call.
JASJAR is already installed a Anti-Virus installer, you can go to “Program” and found the anti-virus, run it and it will install the anti-virus, after installed the anti-virus it will required to update the virus data online, so you should connect to the internet throw GPRS, wi-fi or throw ActiveSync to connect to the internet and get the newer virus database. When I start the program, a simple interface is clean to understand what should do and the scan review is quite details. But I don’t know is that a good anti-virus, as I did not install any virus in my JASJAR, but it is very cool feature for a new device.
After the use and test all installed software and now I am going to check the hardware.
In JASJAR, the following is the keyboard, button and switch configuration.
62 Keys QWERTY Keyboard
1 x Power Button
1 x Backlight Button
1 x Camera Button
1 x Voice Speed Dial Button
1 x Volume Control
2 x Phone Button
First I can confirm the power, voice speed dial, camera button and volume control is working, but when I try to backlight button, nothing is effected, I did check the user guide, online support, but the backlight button still now working, but when I long press the power button, it will turn off and on the backlight, but I cannot turn off the device. I just wonder why there has a backlight button but the backlight setting is not set in a right track, and HOW TO TURN OFF THE DEVICE???
After test the accessory button, I want to test the phone quality. When I dial a call, no voice is output in the earphone, and when I switch to speaker mode and hand free mode everything is work fine. But the strange is microphone is worked fine in every mode, just the earphone is not working.
Then I have tried to post the question in their online support forum, but still now, no one answer my thread. I do not know it is a special question so there has no one can answer me, or their online support is not that effective.
Except the ROM, earphone and their supporting, I trust JASJAR is a good PPC Phone on the market, if you want to buy a JASJAR, please download the updated ROM at once, and check the earphone clearly. Moreover is Enjoy your JASJAR.
Cheers